ccording to some sources, the castle was built in the twenties of the thirteenth century as a foundation of the prince of Opole and Racibórz, Kazimierz. According to these sources, it was built on the site of a former Norbertine monastery. The analysis of historical sources, on the other hand, suggests that the castle was built much earlier, at least in the twelfth century. Initially, it was a building with a wooden and earth structure. Because the later castle was small in size, probably its earlier form was built on a rectangular or square plan with also small sides. According to the research carried out during the ongoing general renovation, it was established that the brick castle was built in the last quarter of the 13th century, or until the beginning of the 14th century.
The
Aerial photo, photo by ZeroJeden, VI 2019
castle was a Gothic, two-storey building, surrounded by a moat and surrounded by a wooden and earth rampart. The buildings were built of sandstone and brick. The main building was fortified with three diagonal buttresses. At the turn of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, the building was enlarged to the east, and soon after, at the beginning of the fourteenth century, the whole was surrounded by a defensive wall. In the eastern section of this defensive circuit, an entrance gate was placed, protruding slightly in front of the face of the wall.
It was not a residential castle, but a defensive one, intended for the crew stationed there. In addition, the defensive values of the castle were increased by ponds spilled around it, probably established with military values in mind, but also used for fish farming. At the turn of the 14th-15th century, the castle was the property of the Dukes of Racibórz, but it was used by the Dukes of Cieszyn as a parking place in the event of a trip to Bytom, half of which then belonged to the Cieszyn Piasts. In 1428-35
Aerial photo, photo by ZeroJeden, VI 2019
in the vicinity of the town there were battles conducted by the Hussite army. The town suffered great damage, but the inhabitants found shelter in the castle and from the quick reconstruction of Rybnik it should be concluded that the castle defended itself. The rebuilt city was soon burned down again and plundered by robber knights. At the same time, the power over Rybnik was taken over by the Duke of Racibórz, Wenceslaus, who ended the princely rule over the city. The king of Bohemia, Matthias Corvinus, took the castle from the favorable Władysław Jagiellon Wenceslaus and gave it to a nobleman from Niewiadom as a reward for fighting against his prince.
Eventually, the castle was in the hands of Jan the Younger. From then on, hard times came for the town, which meant a systematic decline to ruin for the castle. In 1579-1581, it was partially rebuilt by Władysław of Lobkowice, when he received assurances from the Czech king that the castle would remain in the hands of his children. A general change in appearance took place in 1650-53. At that time, the old,
The south wing of the courthouse, photo by ZeroJeden, IX 2004
defensive stronghold was completely demolished and a new residence was erected in its place. At that time, the building had a beautiful tower at the back, demolished around 1758. Such a picture remained until the end of the XVIIIth cent. when the castle was rebuilt again, transforming it into a house of war invalids. The castle has remained in this form to this day, only in 1938 a new roof truss was made, lowering the roof by 2.5 m.
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cording to some sources, the castle was built in the twenties of the thirteenth century as a foundation of the prince of Opole and Racibórz, Kazimierz. According to these sources, it was built on the site of a former Norbertine monastery. The analysis of historical sources, on the other hand, suggests that the castle was built much earlier, at least in the twelfth century. Initially, it was a building with a wooden and earth structure. Because the later castle was small in size, probably its earlier form was built on a rectangular or square plan with also small sides. According to the research carried out during the ongoing general renovation, it was established that the brick castle was built in the last quarter of the 13th century, or until the beginning of the 14th century.
